That sounded…lovely.
With a sigh, she melted against him, and his lips found hers once more. This kiss might’ve started as soft and loving, but when she untangled her hands from their cloaks and slid them up his sides, he growled low in his throat and deepened the kiss. Soon, it turned desperate, and she felt the ache building between her legs once more.
His lips dropped to her neck, and she arched back to give him better access, her breath puffing little clouds in the cold afternoon air. “Mayhap—”
“Aye, my love?”
She moaned when he nipped at her skin. “Mayhap Cook might wait another hour.”
When he straightened, he was grinning wickedly, even as he fumbled to take her hand in his. “Then I shall endeavor to use that hour to the best of my ability.”
“Ye are quite inventive, husband. ‘Tis why I love ye so much.”
Laughing, he tugged her toward the door. “Well, let me show ye how much I love ye. And how happy I am right now.”
Two wonderful sons, a safe and happy home, another bairn on the way, and a husband who loved her. What more could Isabel ask for?
She was chuckling when she pushed up against him, her lips straining for his. “Only as happy as I am, Tavish.”
“Och, wife,” the former Black Banner murmured against her skin, “I love ye.”
AUTHOR’S NOTE on Historical Accuracy
Author’s Note
On Historical Accuracy
By now, you know all about the nautical history introduced in this series; about the evolution of birlinns and sea travel during this period. Note that while a ship can still sail more miles in a day than a horse can run, a determined traveler can switch out horses.
In previous books I’ve discussed Scone, Robert and Elizabeth Bruce, and their pasts, so I won’t go into those details here. I will reiterate the succession crisis that exists in this book; without a legitimate male heir to the throne, the fate of Scotland’s future was uncertain. Although Princess Margaret could inherit, it was much more likely the throne would go to her son. Robert’s daughter from his first marriage, Marjorie, had died by the events in this book, but her son Robert Stewart was technically the heir before Margaret (and would grow up to be Robert the Second).
But Margaret was still vital to the crown.
Which makes it all the more irritating we don’t even know her birth year, nor that of her sister, Maud. (For that matter, we don’t even know Alex’s real birth year, so I just guessed at their relative ages.)
We can guess the approximate timing of Elizabeth’s pregnancies, and we know she was pregnant around the dates of The Pirate’s Angel. It’s possible this pregnancy would result in Maud, but since I already had her born in the earlier books in the series, she spent her time in this book hiding in the nursery.
Either way, Elizabeth would not bear a male child until 1324, when she birthed twins: John (likely the eldest) died young, but David grew to become King David I on his father’s death. When he died without a male heir (after a long reign), his nephew Robert Stewart became king.
Now, on to our main characters. Tavish MacLeod is, of course, made up. But after introducing him in the very first book in the series, I knew he had to make a return. I just adored him!
As for Isabel de Strathbogie…
I’ve mentioned it before, but she was absolutely a real person, and everything mentioned as part of her past was absolutely true. She was the daughter of one Earl of Atholl, and sister of another, and betrothed to Edward Bruce, the king’s brother and heir, for a long time. He impregnated her but left her for Isabel, daughter of the Earl of Ross.
Which was convenient, because he didn’t have to remember a new name, I suppose.
Although it’s not certain Edward and Isabel of Ross ever married, I imagine it to be a love match. Why else would he have thrown over our Isabel? Marriage to Isabel de Strathbogie would’ve been a powerful alliance (when Edward dumped her, Isabel’s brother, the Earl of Atholl, was angry enough to take his military might to the British to fight for them for a bit) and—this is the important part—would make his son, the heir to the Scottish crown, legitimate.
When Edward chose not to marry Isabel de Strathbogie, he chose to keep Alexander Bruce, his son, illegitimate, and possibly doom the future of Scotland. So yeah, the romantic in me believes he did so because Isabel of Ross offered him something better…maybe love?
Of course, very little is known about Isabel de Strathbogie, so I extrapolated a bunch (which is par for the course when it comes to medieval women). If I were in her embroidered slippers, I’d be pleased my son wasn’t heir, although the Bruces both were very clear of their support of Alexander Bruce; likely because there was a chance they’d need to legitimize him for the sake of the kingdom. I chose to manifest that through a close friendship between Elizabeth and Isabel, and by Alex playing with his cousin Margaret.
Although it’s a little depressing, I should point out the real Isabel de Strathbogie was already dead by 1317, three years before this book takes place. But I decided after the life she’d led, she deserved a happily ever after with a good man who would treat her the way she deserved to be treated. As soon as I read her story, I knew she would appear as a heroine in one of my Angels stories!
The Earl of Carrick is still a title very much in use, held by Prince Charles today. Over the last centuries, the title has evolved so now the heir to the throne is the one who holds it, and we can see the beginning of that tradition during Robert the Bruce’s time.
The title belonged to Robert’s family, and I need to pause to tell the most delightful legend. Robert’s mother, Marjorie, inherited Carrick from her grandfather, becoming Countess of Carrick and marrying a man who jaunted off to the Crusades. When he died in Acre, one of his comrades, Robert de Brus, agreed to return with the news. According to legend, Marjorie, becoming smitten with Robert, imprisoned him until he agreed to marry her, and they had ten children.
The oldest, Robert, was Earl of Carrick after his father’s death…until he became King of Scotland.
After that, the title of Earl of Carrick passed to Robert’s remaining brother, Edward (the rest were killed during the War of Scottish Independence). When he died, the title was unused for a bit until Robert gave it to his son, David, and then to Alexander Bruce, his illegitimate nephew.
So technically, wee Alex didn’t become Earl of Carrick until 1332, twelve years after this book takes place. However, in order to make the plot work, I fudged the years a bit to make him the earl at a young age, and I hope you’ll forgive me. Whatever age he was granted the title, doing so proved King Robert thought highly of Alex and considered him an asset to the Scottish throne.
One final historical inaccuracy: the MacNeils. Actually, Robert was the one to grant Barra to the MacNeils, so their legacy on the island would’ve been relatively new. Kisimul Castle, which features heavily in this story, was likely not built for at least a hundred years after the events recounted here.
But how could I possibly set a story on Barra and not use the fantastic fortress in the middle of the bay?
Finally, Domnall MacNeil is entirely fiction, but in my mind, he’s the son of the laird Robert granted Barra to. I hope the MacNeils will forgive me for fudging their history slightly. After all, during Robert’s rule, the Lords of the Isles were still very powerful semi-independent rulers, and I didn’t want to diminish that.
Thank you so much for enjoying The Highland Angels series! I had a delightful time bringing this period in history to light and reminding us all just how kickass ladies have been running things behind the scenes for centuries now.
If you’ve enjoyed these stories, I would love for you to join my reader group to discuss them! Caroline’s Cohort is all about books, funny stories, and history! Cohort members help me choose names and get to read exclusive excerpts before everyone else, and we have loads of fun together.
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The Highland Angels
The Bruce’s Angel
The Highlander’s Angel
The Laird’s Angel
The Thief’s Angel
Steamy Scottish Historicals:
The Sinclair Jewels (4 books)
The Highland Angels (4 books)
The Hots for Scots (7 books)
Sensual Historical Westerns:
Black Aces (3 books)
Sunset Valley (3 books)
Everland Ever After (10 books)
The Sweet Cheyenne Quartet (6 books)
Sweet Contemporary Westerns
Cowboys of Cauldron Valley (7 books)
Quinn Valley Ranch (5 books)
River’s End Ranch (14 books)
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About the Author
Caroline Lee has been reading romance for so long that her fourth-grade teacher used to make her cover her books with paper jackets. But it wasn't until she (mostly) grew up that she realized she could write it too. So she did.
Caroline is living her own little Happily Ever After in NC with her husband, sons, and new daughter, Princess Wiggles. And while she doesn't so much "suffer" from Pittakionophobia as think that all you people who enjoy touching Band-Aids and stickers are the real weirdos, she does adore rodents, and never met a wine she didn't like. Caroline was named Time Magazine's Person of the Year in 2006 (along with everyone else) and is really quite funny in person. Promise.
You can find her at www.CarolineLeeRomance.com.
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